A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol • Have you ever seen a version of “ A Christmas Carol ” ? • You may be surprised how many versions of this classic tale have been made.
A Christmas Carol The most recent version you may be familiar with :
A Christmas Carol My Favorite Version:
A Christmas Carol This is a famous version:
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A Christmas Carol • It ’ s hard to imagine a Christmas season without the story of old Scrooge, Bah Humbug! and “ God bless us, every one. ” • At the time this story was written (1843), the generous spirit of Christmas charity was scant in England. • Many people did not believe in generosity to the poor. • Instead, they believed the poor somehow brought poverty upon themselves.
About the Author Charles Dickens • 1812-1870 • Famous author and social campaigner • At 12 began working full days at a warehouse • Work conditions and cruel treatment influenced Dickens ’ later writings
Dickens ’ Biography • Born February 7, 1812 • 1824 -- Dickens worked at Warren ’ s Blacking Warehouse • 1824 -- Mr. Dickens (Charles ’ father) taken to debtors ’ prison; family joins him • Imprisoned from February - May • 1827 - Dickens family evicted from home for not paying rent • Charles is pulled out of private school • Charles, now 15, becomes law clerk and free-lance writer • 1834 - Charles ’ Dad re-arrested for debts
As a result of these things, he exercised his social conscience • He crusaded for children ’ s rights. • He was an advocate of child labor laws to protect children. • He opposed cruelty, deprivation, and corporal punishment of children. • He believed in and lobbied for just treatment of criminals.
In addition, • He protested a greedy, uncaring, materialistic society through such works as A Christmas Carol , which Dickens called “ a sledgehammer ” he used figuratively to wake up the reading public • He repeatedly used satire to highlight problems in his society
Important Works • Great Expectations • A Tale of Two Cities • Oliver Twist • A Christmas Carol • David Copperfield • Pictures from Italy • A Trial for Murder
From Books to Movies • Many of Dickens ’ famous works were later turned into movies -- A Christmas Carol -- A Tale of Two Cities --Great Expectations --Oliver Twist
Dickens ’ writings Social Commentary • Disliked the division between social classes in Victorian England • Felt that the poor were treated unfairly • Advocate for charity
Victorian Christmas Traditions • Many Christmas traditions celebrated today were introduced during Dickens ’ time • Decorating Christmas trees • Christmas cards • Gift giving from parents to children • Traditional Christmas carols • Christmas stories
A Christmas Carol • In a clever play on words, • . Dickens divides the book into 5 “ staves ” instead of chapters. Staves is a musical term, in keeping with the title, A Christmas Carol – which, of course, is a song.
A Chr Christmas istmas Carol rol by by C Char harle les s Dickens ickens • Overview-- • Ebenezer Scrooge, a tight-fisted and bitter man, is visited by three spirits to bring about his redemption before his death. He learns to love his fellow man after being shown the love and generosity that symbolizes Christmas.
A Christmas Carol • Jacob Marley, Scrooge ’ s partner - has been dead, 7 years to the day that our story begins. • The first scene unfolds in the cold cheerless office of Scrooge ’ s counting house.
A Christmas Carol • As his faithful clerk Bob Cratchit toils, Scrooge is visited by his nephew and invited to Christmas dinner the next day. Scrooge declares that those who celebrate Christmas should be boiled in their own pudding and dismisses him. • Two men who come seeking donations for the poor are dismissed with Scrooge ’ s wish that the poor would die and “ decrease the surplus population. ”
A Christmas Carol • Jacob Marley ’ s visit is dismissed as “ more gravy than grave ” by Scrooge, but it ends up setting the stage for the three ghosts. Which ghost ’ s message most resembles that of Jacob Marley ’ s?
A Christmas Carol • Pay careful attention to the three ghosts. Each message has a specific effect on Scrooge. • What does the ghost of Christmas past remind Scrooge of? • Whose generous heart touches Scrooge in the present? • What does Scrooge ’ s future hold if he continues to be greedy and self-absorbed?
Literary Elements & Devices • Protagonist & Antagonist • “A Christmas Carol” is unusual because Scrooge, the Protagonist (usually the good guy) is a very BAD guy. • The antagonist (usually the bad guy) is the good guy. • Remember that the antagonist is the person who causes the conflict for the protagonist. They are not always good guys or bad guys.
Literary Elements & Devices • Characterization: • The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. • Is revealed through direct characterization & indirect characterization
Literary Elements & Devices • Direct Characterization • Tells reader what personality of the character • Example: The patient boy and quiet girl were both well-mannered and did not disobey their mother. • Indirect Characterization • Shows things that reveal the personality of the character • Five methods: speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, looks
Literary Elements & Devices PERSONIFICATION • Dickens portrays Ignorance and Want as two frail, ghastly children. • Do you think the main causes of poverty are ignorance and want? Explain why or why not.
Literary Elements & Devices • Theme: • The message about life that comes out of a story. May be stated or unstated • Think of life lesson or moral
Literary Elements & Devices • Symbolism: • Something concrete that stands for something abstract • May be a person, place, thing, action • May stand for an idea, belief, feeling, or attitude • Symbol: object that stands for something other than itself
Literary Elements & Devices • Imagery • Words or phrases that appeal to the senses & conjure up mental images. • Helps the reader imagine the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, & feelings associated with character’s or author’s experiences • Appears extensively in setting & character description
Literary Elements & Devices • Flashback • An interruption in a story to tell about events that happened earlier. • Can appear as character memories or dreams, or in dialogue or narration • Provide background information that clarifies current actions in story
Literary Elements & Devices • Foreshadowing • The use of clues early in a story to give hints about events that will happen later
You’ll see these when you read A Christmas Carol!
To give something that is not human, human characteristics
The flowers danced in the wind. The friendly gates welcomed us. The Earth coughed and choked in all the pollution.
A way of describing something by comparing it with something else using “ like ” or “ as ”
I am as hungry as a horse. You run like a rabbit. She is as happy as a clam. He is as sneaky as a snake.
• A way of describing something by comparing it with something else • Does not use like or as
The girl was a fish in the water. The cloud was a feather floating away. Time is a thief.
• Repetition of the first consonant sound
Stan the strong surfer saved several swimmers on Saturday. Tiny Tommy Thomson takes toy trucks to Timmy’s on Tuesday.
• Words that are sounds
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